He unlatches the front-yard gate and is steps away from the homes entrance when two armed men spring from the vehicle. It had not been seen publicly before it was obtained by The Free Press. A welcome email is on its way. He only would have told people close to him, so hes got a rat in his nest.. Wade directed all questions about the Ontario Street shooting investigation to Toronto police. In total, Barletta faces 15 charges including bookmaking, laundering proceeds of crime, fraud over $5,000 and commission of an offence for a criminal organization. Theres obviously ongoing violence associated to the outlaw motorcycle gangs. The man fires four shots from the sidewalk before a second man emerges from the rear passenger side and lets off a burst from his handgun while standing in the street. There are a lot of incompetent hit teams around these days, and a lot of them are not very professional, Dubro said. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. One week after The Free Press reported that a home at 302 Commissioners Rd. E. in London the day after a December 2019 arson. Police are still working on this investigation, it is still active, she wrote in an email. Barlettas co-accused, Gordon Baird, who also faces new charges in Operation Hobart, pleaded guilty to a charge of bookmaking as participation in a criminal organization. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Nobody has been charged. The only legal setback for Barletta, who is known as the Teflon biker because of his clean criminal record, came in 2014, when the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario revoked the liquor licence for his east London strip club, Famous Flesh Gordons, because of his outlaw biker ties. This is why organized crime is not a good career choice . Theres always people out to get you.. The next issue of LFP Noon News Roundup will soon be in your inbox. Nobody has been charged. Multiple residents on Ontario Street in Toronto, all of whom spoke on condition their names not be published amid fears for their safety, said investigators told them the shooting targeted a man who is known to police and had recently been released on bail. But both Lavigne and Dubro say the attempt on Barlettas life shows he has bigger problems than his criminal charges. Barletta was released on bail earlier this year following his arrest aboard a plane at Pearson International Airport on Dec. 13, 2019, as part of Operation Hobart, an investigation into an alleged multimillion-dollar gambling operation that police contend was run by members of the Hells Angels and an alleged Toronto crime family. A vehicle with multiple people inside fled the scene, but no arrests have been made or arrest warrants issued for suspects, Const. Two police sources told The London Free Press that Barletta was the intended target of the shooting. Perhaps they thought the alleged outlaw biker accused of involvement in a multimillion-dollar sports gambling ring would be wearing Hells Angels patches, red-and-white gear or other flashy clothing. The now-retired head of the OPPs biker enforcement unit, Anthony Renton, said the two-year probe was launched following a suspected arson on Jan. 5, 2018, at a home in Thornbury, a small town on Georgian Bay northwest of Collingwood. Dubro speculated that the two triggermen were hired guns, a common tactic employed by organized crime groups, including outlaw bikers and the Mafia. Get the London Free Press for only $2/week. 2003: Founds London Hells Angelschapter2008: Police seize Hells Angels clubhouse on Swinyard Street they allege Barletta owns2012: Famous Flesh Gordons strip club in London set on fire in alleged arson2013: Charged in Platinum Sports Book bust2014: AGCO revokes liquor licence for Famous Flesh Gordons2016: Platinum charges withdrawnDec. The first man gets out of the passenger seat and is holding guns in both hands as he runs toward Barletta, who is now out of the frame. 17, 2019: Arrested at Pearson airport, charged in Operation HobartMarch 30, 2020: Survives shooting outside Toronto homeJuly 30, 2020: Additional charges laid in Operation Hobart. He has some serious problems with rivals in his own group and rivals outside, crime author James Dubro said of Barletta. . Jenifferjit Sidhu said. Dubro added: Im not so sure hes so secure in the Hells Angels . Police, who commonly notify the media of cases of gunfire, didnt issue a news release on the shooting, or release the surveillance video in a bid to identify the shooters. belongs to Salvatrice Barletta, believed to be Barlettas mother. (Mike Hensen/The London Free Press), Anti-gambling sweep underscores need to overhaul sports betting laws, critics say, Police investigating fire at London home raided during probe into alleged illegal gambling, Londoner at centre of sweeping police arrests for alleged $131M gambling ring, London woman linked to ex-Hells Angels leader faces gun, gambling charges, Ontario's 'Teflon Biker' arrested on gun charges as part of unannounced probe targeting Hells Angels, An inside look at Maple Leaf Foods' $772M London plant, Pillar chair promises update on chief executive's sudden exit, After clash and arrest, London's Pride officials feel 'overwhelming' support, Man charged after stranger exposes himself to young girls: Police, Loved ones mourn former city politician after Parkinson's battle, tap here to see other videos from our team, the house was destroyed in a suspected arson, Past president of London Hells Angels chapter, Alleged to be current member of Niagara Hells Angels chapter, Former manager of Beef Baron strip club in London, Owned Famous Flesh Gordons strip club in London. (Photo illustration: Patrick Maloney/The London Free Press), Surveillance footage captured two men firing shots at alleged Hells Angels member Robert Barletta as he entered this Ontario Street home in Torontos Cabbagetown neighbourhood on March 30, 2020. A Toronto police spokesperson confirmed nobody was injured in the shooting that damaged a building. Please try again, 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. Four Montreal men are charged with first-degree murder. But Barlettas narrow escape shows he has made dangerous enemies and raises questions about why police have been tight-lipped about the incident, say organized crime experts. We encountered an issue signing you up.

Two months ago, police laid additional charges against Barletta and seven others in connection with Operation Hobart, seizing another $24 million worth of assets. Thats why the multi-jurisdictional unit, the biker enforcement unit, was formed to deal with that, said OPP Det. Hed been staying with his niece at the four-unit Ontario Street home, one of the sources said. The fact that the cops never mentioned this to the media is very bothersome, said Yves Lavigne, the Canadian author of several books on the Hells Angels. Sign up to receive a curated collection of links and highlights from our award-winning breaking news coverage, in-depth analysis and unmatched investigative features at lunchtime weekdays. . Theyre hiring them from street gangs.. TARGETED: Who is trying to kill alleged London biker Robert Barletta? We know we can disrupt, we can even dismantle criminal organizations and outlaw motorcycle gangs, but the violence is still going to be associated.. Scott Wade, who leads the joint forces operation. Thats how you identify people. But the charges against him were withdrawn in January 2017. Both men continue to fire wildly while running backward to the getaway vehicle. Get the London Free Press, National Post and 14 other news sites for only $2/week. Staff Sgt. Putting out details of the shooting and releasing the surveillance video would show area residents that investigators are taking the threat to public safety seriously, he said. The home had been recently raided by police as part of an organized crime probe. Barletta, 50, wasnt injured and police havent made any arrests in the case.

Hells Angels member Michael Deabauta-Schulde, 32, was gunned down outside a Mississauga gym on March 11, 2019. in London was raided as part of Operation Hobart, the house was destroyed in a suspected arson. (DALE CARRUTHERS, The London Free Press), An aerial file photo shows the home at 302 Commissioners Rd. Deabauta-Schulde was involved in the online operation that made $131 million in illegal revenues over five years, police allege. You get tips.. But the founder of Londons Hells Angels chapter was sporting white sneakers, grey pants, a grey long-sleeved shirt and a black baseball cap as he passed the black Audi that had been parked on Ontario Street, just south of Gerrard Street, for nearly four hours. Barletta isnt the first alleged biker with connections to the busted gambling ring to come under attack. Sources linked Barletta to the house and its owner, Habiba Kajan, 44, with whom hes jointly charged with gun offences and possession of property obtained by crime. If youre a loyal Hells Angel, usually youre protected.

The roots of Operation Hobart go back to the 2013 police bust of the Platinum Sports Book gambling operation, which police say grossed more than $103 million in five years. 2022 London Free Press, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Robert Barletta, founder of the London Hells Angels chapter, narrowly escaped an attempted shooting on March 30 in Toronto. . Surveillance footage obtained by The London Free Press shows Barletta, 50, glimpse briefly at the vehicle its engine running and headlights on before walking past it and up to the red-brick house, seemingly unaware of the pending danger shortly before 7:30 p.m. March 30. Someone found out where he was and sent the shooters there, Lavigne said.

By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. TORONTO Maybe the would-be assassins didnt recognize Robert Barletta as he walked up to the home in Torontos Cabbagetown neighbourhood. None of the nearly 20 shots fired hit their mark.

Several people in a nearby Beer Store parking lot scatter. . Twenty-eight people, including three other Londoners, were charged with a combined 228 offences related to guns, gambling, participating in organized crime and tax evasion in the sweeping investigation that involved 18 law enforcement agencies and led to the seizure of $12 million in assets. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Property records show the now-destroyed luxury home at 363 Sunset Blvd. Read more about cookies here. Barletta was charged in 2013 with bookmaking and possessing proceeds of crime. There was an error, please provide a valid email address.